Helen Watson is a senior partner and head of Employment & Immigration Law at Aaron & Partners advising businesses and individuals on all aspects of employment law, and helping to shape the wider strategy and growth of Aaron & Partners.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN YOUR CURRENT JOB? I joined Aaron & Partners as the firm’s first female Equity partner way back in 2007. Since then, I’ve gone on to become head of Employment & Immigration Law, and in May this year I was appointed senior partner - the first woman to be appointed to the role in the firm’s 45 year history.
HOW IS YOUR JOB IMPACTED BY FLUCTUATIONS IN THE ECONOMY? Employment law is naturally closely linked to the economy, whether times are good or bad. When the economy struggles, my role often involves advising businesses, including multinationals, on areas including redundancy and restructuring. When confidence and recruitment pick up, the focus tends to shift towards helping businesses grow their workforce, with strategic advice on everything from employment terms to the policies they need as they expand.
WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON HYBRID AND FLEXIBLE WORKING – IS IT STILL NEEDED, OR PRACTICAL? The ability to work flexibly, including remotely, is absolutely needed in the modern workplace. It helps businesses attract the best talent and can open up opportunities to people who might otherwise be excluded from certain roles.
That said, I still think there needs to be an element of working together in person for teams to really thrive. We’re social beings, and there are some things you simply learn better by being in the room with other people. That’s particularly important for younger people starting their careers, who benefit enormously from being around more experienced colleagues.
HOW DO YOU VIEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – AND HOW MIGHT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS USE IT? I think AI has huge potential and, used properly, can make us much more efficient. We’re already exploring how it can support our lawyers with things like summarising documents, formatting and general admin, freeing up more time to focus on the areas where our expertise and judgement can add the most value for clients.
However, I don’t think we should be rushing to adopt every new tool that comes along. The technology is developing incredibly quickly, so at Aaron & Partners we’re taking a measured approach and making sure we properly consider issues such as confidentiality, data and governance. For me, AI should enhance what a good lawyer can do rather than try to replace the experience and human judgement they bring.
HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU? I’d like to think they see me as approachable but decisive. I’m always willing to offer advice or support and do my best to make things happen. Law can be extremely complex and high-pressure at times, so I want to be the sort of person colleagues feel they can come to, whether they need to talk through a difficult issue or simply want a second opinion.
YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH IN THE WORKPLACE? I’m a strategic leader and take people with me on the journey. I hope that if you asked my team, they would say I empower each of them to be the very best they can be. I encourage self belief, drive and career progression.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR JOB? Probably keeping pace with the sheer amount of change. Employment law is constantly evolving, and we’re currently seeing significant changes to legislation alongside new challenges created by technology and AI.
For me, the challenge is cutting through all of that complexity and making sure our clients understand what it actually means for their business. They don’t necessarily want a legal lecture, they want clear, practical advice that helps them make the right decision.
YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS? I’m incredibly proud of my career, particularly as the journey wasn’t always straightforward. I funded myself through university and law school while working various jobs, and later became a single mum at around the same time I was offered partnership. I became Aaron & Partners’ first female Equity partner in 2007 and, nearly 20 years later, I’m now senior partner, so when I look back at where I started, I’m hugely proud of that journey.
HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? Running is definitely my go-to. I absolutely love it and find it’s one of the best ways to switch off after a busy day. I’m usually at my happiest when I’ve got a challenge to train for too.
Next up is the Tokyo Half Marathon, where I’ll be raising money for Claire House Children’s Hospice, followed by an ultra marathon in Santorini. I’ve raised over £200,000 for charity over the years, so I love being able to combine running with supporting causes that mean a lot to me. There’s always something slightly wild on the horizon!
FAVOURITE THING ABOUT SHROPSHIRE? I love Shrewsbury in particular as a town and all it has to offer, from the Iron Works to a picturesque market town with incredible bars and restaurants and individual shops and boutiques. I also really enjoy the theatre so attending Theatre Severn is also high on the list of favourite things about Shropshire.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM OF CHOICE? Instagram
FAVOURITE MOVIE AND/OR TV SHOW? The Holiday, because I’m a bit of a romantic at heart! Goodness knows how many times I’ve seen this film. I usually like a good thriller or police series. I also loved The Split with the female family lawyers. Hopefully, there may be another series of that soon!
EARLY BIRD, OR NIGHT OWL? A bit of both at times but generally an early bird. I like getting a gym workout done before I start work.
DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE? I would love a dinner party with the cast from The Holiday! I’ve always fancied Cameron Diez as my alter ego!
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW. I had quite a few different jobs while funding university and law school. I worked in and managed bars, even doing a Stella Artois management qualification.
I was a French tutor for GCSE and A Level students, and I qualified as a personal trainer. At one stage I trained the athletics teams at university and taught late night aerobics and spinning classes before owning my own gym while also working as a lawyer, so it was certainly a busy few years!
AND FINALLY . . . WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT 12 MONTHS HAS IN STORE FOR YOU, PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY? Well, it’s an exciting time for Aaron & Partners as we continue to grow, so I’m looking forward to really getting stuck into my new role as senior partner and developing new opportunities for the firm, including internationally.
Personally, there’s plenty happening too. I’ll be training for the Tokyo Half Marathon in March, raising money for Claire House Children’s Hospice, before turning my attention to an ultra marathon in Santorini later in the year. So I think it’ll involve plenty of running to do!
